"The Greenhouse Jungle" is the second episode of the second season of Columbo and the eleventh episode overall. It first aired on October 15, 1972 and was directed by Boris Sagal. In addition to Peter Falk as Columbo, the episode stars Ray Milland, Bradford Dillman and Sandra Smith. Milland previously appeared in Death Lends a Hand but not as the murderer. Bob Dishy makes his first appearance as Sergeant Wilson in this episode, later returning in Now You See Him three years later.
In The Greenhouse Jungle, a young man by the name of Anthony Goodland (Bradford Dillman) hatches a scheme with his uncle Jarvis Goodland (Ray Milland) to falsify a kidnapping-for-ransom so that "Tony" can make some money by liquidating a trust meant to curb his (presumably) excessive spending habits. In particular, Tony hopes to win back his wife Kathy in spite of her cheating on him and her numerous infidelities. But what Tony fails to count on is his uncle Jarvis, who himself is in desperate need of cash of his own to sustain his own expensive obsession with orchids, instead double-crossing and killing Tony, whom he secretly hates, to keep all the money for himself.
Cast[]
- Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo.
- Ray Milland as Jarvis Goodland, Tony's orchid-obsessed uncle, who cannot wait to be rid of the nephew he secretly hates and finance his own orchid obsession (a highly expensive pursuit, admittedly) with the money he has helped Tony steal.
- Bradford Dillman as Tony Goodland, Jarvis's clueless nephew, who falsifies his own kidnapping so that he can liquidate his trust fund in hopes of winning back his cheating wife Kathy. But Jarvis instead shoots Tony to his death to take all the money for himself.
- Sandra Smith as Kathy Goodland, Tony's unfaithful wife. Despite her affairs, he still loves her and hopes he can buy his way back into her heart.
- William Smith as Ken Nichols, Kathy's toyboy.
- Arlene Martel as Gloria West, an attractive girl who is interested in Tony.
- Bob Dishy as Sergeant Frederick "Freddy" Wilson, an overeager young detective assigned to work with Columbo, much to Columbo's chagrin. Wilson would return in Now You See Him.
- Robert Karnes as Sergeant Grover, another police detective. He may or may not have reappeared in Candidate for Crime under a different name.
Columbo (season 2) |
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1."Étude in Black" 2."The Greenhouse Jungle" 3."The Most Crucial Game" 4."Dagger of the Mind" 5."Requiem for a Falling Star" 6."A Stitch in Crime" 7."The Most Dangerous Match" 8."Double Shock" |